The 19th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Vander Esch joins a Cowboys linebacking corps packed with talent but also fraught with uncertainty. The Boise State product has outstanding speed and athleticism for his size, giving him plenty of upside in a three-down role as he racks up tackles, handles coverage assignments and makes the occasional blitzing foray. Whether he sees a three-down role on a roster that already features oft-injured Sean Lee and third-year LB Jaylon Smith is the big question, but Dallas' initial depth chart lists the rookie as the starting middle linebacker, seemingly putting him ahead of Smith in nickel packages. There were also concerns about a possible neck issue prior to the draft, but the Cowboys presumably didn't consider him a health risk when they used a first-round pick on him. If the workload is there for Vander Esch, elite production could follow. Read Past Outlooks

$Signed a four-year, $11.85 million contract with the Cowboys in May of 2018.

Pro Bowl rookie campaign

LBDallas Cowboys

January 19, 2019

Vander Esch finished the regular season with a team-high 140 tackles, including 102 solo, and two interceptions on seven passes defended.

ANALYSISThe 19th overall pick in the 2018 draft had an explosive rookie campaign for the Cowboys, with his tackle total being all the more impressive considering he wasn't even a full-time player until Week 4. Vander Esch's exploits earned him a Pro Bowl nod, and he figures to pair with Jaylon Smith for the foreseeable future as one of the most aggressive and punishing young linebacking duos in the NFL.

How do Leighton Vander Esch's measurables compare to other linebackers?

This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.